Dragon Age: Birth and Beginnings
Chapter 1: Birth of a Hero
Author's Note:
I've been planning this for a while. This is a sort of seperate prologue to the Dragon Age: Origins fan fiction I plan to write when I'm done with my Mass Effect 1 fan fiction. Anyway, this story will tell the story of the origins of my elven mage Trevor Surana that will be the main character of my story. This story will tell what happened to him from his birth up to his harrowing. While skipping around of course. In my thing I said I was from Denerim when I was asked so he's going be born in Denerim so I'll be explaining what happened to his parents in the main story but all you need to know is that he will exchange some notes with them in this. But anyway, I'll start by saying he was 9:10 of the Dragon Age...
He was born 9:10 of the Dragon age, just like Alistair and only about a month apart, though they would not know that until much later. Anyway, on this night Jaina Surana had given birth to a small baby boy. Upon his birth, her and her husband, Ballion Surana, had immediately been able to tell that he was a mage. He seemed to emit magic. Practically all elves had the potential for magic, but only a few truly could wield it. Trevor was among these. Unfortunately, his parents knew what that meant. They knew that eventually, he would be taken from them. They just didn't know when. Fortunately, even as a baby he was intelligent enough to cloak his magic. As he grew though, his parents knew he had too much strength to hide forever.
About a year after his birth, he was gifted a sister, though not born of his mother. This girl was actually his cousin, who's mother had died after giving birth to her daughter. For this reason, when he was old enough to speak and asked his mother why his sister was not given to her father, he learned a word most two year olds do not understand. Rape. His mother explained to him that his aunt, who had been a servant to a "great" noble, was raped by the son of this noble once the noble was dead and control went to the son. This noble was named Howe and after he raped her, he fired her and had her removed from "his" keep. After that, she went to stay with her sister and her sister's husband and child. Monthes later she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, a girl whose name she whispered right before her death. Arlina Jonara, who would be raised as Arlina Surana, was born and would never know the truth of her past until the day her "brother" would be taken from her. Ah, but that is a story to be told at another point. For now, it would suffice to say that what happened to her mother was the largest influence of what would happen the day the templars showed up to take him to the circle. But again, I'm getting ahead of myself. For now we shall start at the first big event of his life, the day King Maric came through the alienage with a group of Grey Wardens.
It was during 9:13 of the Dragon Age, and Trevor was but three yet he understood more than many other children his age. But on this day he was playing outside his house with his little sister when a shadow fell over them both. Trevor looked up to see a bearded human standing over them in armor. He might've been scared had the human not been smiling. "What have we here?" he said.
"Hello sir." Trevor replied. "I'm sorry if by telling you this I offend you but... you're in my light." Trevor then prepared to get yelled at or hit or anything. Yet the human then tipped his head back and laughed.
"Do not worry dear boy. Duncan here is way too nice to hit a child, elven or not." King Maric said, coming up behind Duncan who was moving out of the light.
"Yes, now what might your name be?" Duncan asked.
"I'm Trevor Surana and this is my sister, Arlina. Say hello." Trevor said.
"'Ello." She said.
Duncan began laughing again. "What? What's 'o funny?" She asked.
"The way you talk I believe." Maric said.
"I'm sorry." Duncan said, finally done laughing. "It's just that that's a cute voice for such a cute girl."
" 'm not cute." Arlina said. " 'm adorable."
"That you are." Jaina said, coming out of the house. "Can I help you my lords?"
Duncan once again began laughing. "I'm sorry. It's just that I'd prefer it if you'd call me Duncan please."
"And I Maric. I would rather make this visit as informal as possible." Maric said. "Especially since my colleague teryn Loghain, will be joining us soon. Now there's a man who would advise me to be formal."
"All right. Maric. Duncan. Would you like something to drink?" Jaina said.
"That would be nice, my lady." Duncan said.
"Yes, that would be nice." Maric agreed. "And if you have any, I would enjoy some lembas bread."
"Please call me Jaina." She told Duncan. "And are you stereotyping?" She said to Maric.
"Not at all. I just got a craving." Maric replied.
"Well then, be glad we have some." Jaina answered with a smile.
"Great. Now, where is your husband?" Maric asked.
"He is off working in the fields." Jaina said. "Is that why you're here, to take my husband?"
"No. I just know your husband is a skilled swordsman. Especially for an elf." Maric replied. "And Duncan here is looking for recruits for the Grey Wardens."
"What are 'rey 'ardens?" Arlina said.
"Grey Wardens are great heroes who fight the darkspawn." Trevor answered.
"Smart boy." Maric replied. "I let them back into Ferelden three years ago, and now Duncan is trying to find recruits."
"I'd recruit your son, but he's a little young. Though he's very smart for his age." Duncan said.
"Well, I'm sorry to tell you, but my husband is not going to leave his children." Jaina said. "You may wish to ask him but I assure you he will turn you down unless you invoke the right of conscription."
"Do not worry, I plan to do no such thing." Duncan said.
"Well that's to bad." Trevor said. "I'd love it if daddy were a hero."
"He is a hero, lad." Maric said. "Especially if he'd choose family and love over glory."
"Though, it's not always a bad thing to seek glory." Duncan said. "Especially if you're willing to give your life for others."
"At any rate, thank you for the food and drink, but we must get going." Maric said.
"Goodbye King Maric." Trevor said.
"Goodbye?" Maric said. "We only say goodbye to those we know for certain we'll never see again."
He got down on his knee in front of Trevor. "Hold out your hand child." Maric told Trevor. "I would give you a gift, will you accept it?" He asked.
"Yes, my King." Trevor replied.
"I do believe I told you to call me Maric." He said.
"Yes, Maric." Trevor said.
"Good." Maric said. He then grabbed a ring on his finger and pulled it off. "A wise mage once gave me this. He told me, that either it's magic would work for me. Or it would show me the one it would work for. I know not what it does, for it has never worked for me. But I feel that it will work for you. Use it well. All I know of it is that it's a full of power." With that Maric handed Trevor a ring with a red ruby on it and a gold band. When Trevor took it, it shrunk to the perfect size. "Oh yes. It did that for me too, only for me it had to grow."
"He can't accept this, sir." Jaina spoke up. "It'll be stolen or—"
"Oh, yes. Put it on your finger." He told Trevor, who obediantly put the ring on his finger. "Now watch." Maric reached forward and attempted to pull the ring off. It didn't budge. "The ring cannot be taken. It must be given willingly."
"Oh, well... then thank you." Jaina said.
"Yes, thank you Maric." Trevor said.
"I want a gift!" Arlina complained.
"Well then come here." Duncan said.
Arlina went to him. Duncan pulled out a nice red scarf. "I've had this for years." Duncan said. "Now it's no magic ring, but—"
"I love it!" Arlina screamed before launching into Duncan to hug him.
"And I'm glad you do." Duncan said. "Now we must be off."
"Well thank you for giving us your company." Maric told Jaina. "And don't you stop working on that masterpiece out there." He told Trevor.
"Masterpiece?" Jaina asked. "What are you making?"
"A castle!" Arlina said.
"It's actually supposed to be your castle Maric." Trevor told him. "Sorry that it's really sloppy."
"Sloppy?" Maric said. "That's what you call that? How old are you?"
"I'm three." Trevor said proudly.
"Three?" Maric replied. "Well, then that's even better than I thought. That castle looks more like a ten year old at the least built it."
"Well, he's pretty advanced for his age." Jaina said.
"I can see that." Maric said. "Well, me and Duncan must be off. I once again thank you for your hospitality. Until we meet again."
With that, him and Duncan left in time for Loghain to catch up. Trevor, his new ring on his finger, went back to makimg the castle with his sister. Little did he know that this would not be the last time he would see Maric.
Almost a year later, Trevor had grown much and had discovered that the ring also never became dirty. Therefore, he always wore it. So he got beat up a little by people who tryed to take the ring. He had no problem with that though. What he did have a problem with was people hurting his family. So when someone tryed to hurt his sister, naturally he stepped up to defend her.
It happened one day, on Arlina's birthday in fact, that a mean boy found a reason to beat her up. Or at least try to. He wasn't successful. But that was the problem. That day, the boy attempted to beat up Arlina, Trevor was with her. They were shopping for groceries when it happened. The boy had been following them all day. Trevor knew who he was, for his brother had been one of the ones who had beat up Trevor attempting to get the ring. Trevor thought he might like his sister. But he was wrong. The boy wanted the ring and figured that he'd work his up to trying to get it from Trevor. He figured a girl of about his age would be easier than a boy and a good place to start. So who better than the sister of the one whose ring he was after? It was a foolish decision that almost cost him his life. When the boy caught up with with them finally, it became apparent he didn't like Arlina. The thing that gave it a away was the knife Trevor saw strapped to the boys side. Immediately he went to grab his sister, but he wasn't quick enough to grab her. The boy hit her in the head. She fell to the ground screaming. When the boy went to hit her again though, his fist bounced off a barrier that Trevor had thrown up. The problem was... the barrier was stronger than he anticipated. Instead of just stopping the boys fist, it knocked him back ten feet. So, the boy began freaking out and screaming that she was a witch. Trevor ignored him and walked up and picked her up to take her home. With everything that happened, the boy broke his arm. Within days, word reached the Chantry. They sent templars.
When templars arrived, they asked the boy who it was and he declared it was Arlina. The templars enlisted the guards help in case she didn't come willingly. This was the cause of all the problems that day.
The guards and templars arrived and knocked on the door. Jaina answered the door to hear them declare that they were taking her daughter to the Circle of Magi. Jaina argued feverishly that Arlina was not a mage but they would hear none of it. Somehow the templars got Arlina and the guards Jaina. Which is how the truth was discovered.
At this point Trevor returned from shopping alone to find his sister being taken by the templars, are his mother being held by the guards. Now what happened next would have been different if he had been able to tell them he was the mage. Of course, before he got the chance, one of the guards made a mistake by saying something stupid.
"She looks like she'd be fun. You ever had a little elf?" The guard said.
Trevor immediately knew what he meant, and lost control. He dropped the groceries and raised his hands and with a yell shot flames from his hands at the guards and templars pulling them from his family. The flames grabbed them but didn't burn them for Trevor had used what little control he had to keep them from doing that.
"I'm the mage!" He screamed at the templars. "And you will not touch her!" He screamed at the guards.
"Trevor, put them down." Jaina told him. Then Trevor hesitated. "I said. NOW."
Finally with that, he dropped them all just as Maric and some other guards showed up after hearing about a disturbance in the alienage. "What's going on here?" He declared.
"My king!" Trevor said, surprised.
"Trevor?!" Maric exclaimed. "How many times have I told you to call me Maric?"
"That was when you didn't come as King." Trevor replied.
"Sir. He is a mage. We have come to take him to the tower. But he's resisting us." A templar spoke up.
"That doesn't sound like him." Maric said.
"That's because they left out the part where they actually came to claim my daughter." Jaina spoke up.
"As I understand." The templar spoke up. "That's actually your sister's daughter."
"Yet I raised her." Jaina said.
"They also left out the part where your guards were planning on raping my mother." Trevor said, obviously angry.
"Well then. Guards, arrest those guards." Maric said.
"What?!" One of them exclaimed.
"And Trevor, will you allow the templars to take you after I have a word with you?"
"Absolutely my—... Maric." Trevor replied.
"Good." Maric said before turning to the templars. "Will you please assist with arresting those guards?"
"I—" A templar started to say then changed his mind. "As you wish."
"Good." Maric then picked up Trevor put him on his horse. "Meet me at the castle." He then rode away.
When they got back to the castle, Maric took Trevor to the throne room. When he got there, he told everyone to get out. Once the room was clear, he sat down upon the throne and relax. "So, how have you been Trevor?" Maric asked.
"Good. Can't really say great. I'm a little surprised you remember me." Trevor replied.
"Well, I saw something in you. You'll do great things. I'm sure." Maric told him.
"I suppose you want the ring back." Trevor said.
"No. I gave it to you as a gift." Maric said. "You promised me you'd take it. Are you breaking that promise?"
"No." Trevor said. "I just thought you'd like it back."
"Well, no I don't." Maric replied. "In fact, I want you to promise me something else."
"As you wish." Trevor said. "What promise would you have me make?"
"Don't let them change you." Maric said.
"I won't, Maric." Trevor said. "I promise."
"Good." Maric said just as the templars arrived. "Goodbye, Trevor."
"We only say goodbye to those we know for certain we'll never see again." Trevor said. "Remember?"
"I do remember." Maric said. "But I'm certain this is the last time we'll meet young elf. Good luck." With that, the doors closed behind Trevor and his new life, finally began.
Author's Note: For those of you reading this because you're also reading my other story. Thank you for checking this out. Tell me how you think I'm doing. For those of you reading this just cause you found it, also tell me how you think I'm doing, but check out my other story too and tell me what you think of that one as well. Now in this chapter there were a few references you may or may not have noticed. Hopefully I'll have the next one up quickly along with the next chapter on my other story.